Linville Caverns is quick, family trip

Thursday

Sep 15, 2011 at 8:40 AM

Sharon Myers

When the temperature reaches the point that you can stand to be outside for more than 10 minutes, you start looking for an excuse to head out and do something. Although there were many chores at home that needed to be attended, we decided to take a Sunday afternoon to drive up to Linville Caverns in Avery County. It's only about an hour and a half away, and the rates are reasonable for a 45-minute tour. To save time and money, we packed some sandwiches, a gallon of tea and had a picnic lunch on the river bed right outside the entrance to the cave. Being that it was Labor Day, there was an unusually large crowd of people, but somehow we lucked out and grabbed a parking spot right in the front. On the other side of the parking lot was a stream littered with rocks ranging in size from 6-foot boulders to tiny pebbles. The children had a great time climbing and exploring with their Dad while I stood in line for our turn. The tour takes groups of 12 to 15 people at a time underneath Humpback Mountain. The caverns were discovered by American pioneers back in the 1800s when some men who were fishing the creek noticed that the fish seemed to be swimming in and out of solid rock. After searching nearby, the men discovered a tiny opening that led to the discovery of the subterranean room. The cavern was opened to the public back in 1937, and they have upgraded the paths and lighting system many times since then. The first thing you'll notice when you go in is the sudden drop in temperature. We had fortunately checked out the website for the tour ahead of time and had the forethought to bring along our sweatshirts. Another tip for dressing appropriately is to wear tennis shoes. Although the flooring is fairly even throughout, the dripping from the caves make it slippery. I noticed women who had worn their cute little flip-flops were not very happy as they exited their tour.You will know the people in your group fairly well by the time it's all said and done because the walkways can be very narrow at times, and you'll have to press yourself to the walls to let other groups pass. But this in some ways makes it more enjoyable. Our tour guide who reminded me of Ted Nugent with a distinct mountain drawl was quite personable as well as informative and even laughed at his own weak but family-friendly jokes that keep the tour moving at a rapid pace. The caves themselves were true sculptures by God's own hand. The unusual rock formations and mysterious cracks and crevices that have evolved over millions of years are indescribable. The thought of how long it took for these things to form is incomprehensible.One of the most memorable parts of the tour for me was seeing the tectonic plate that runs through the mountain. The guide told us that when the earthquake that every living person on the East Coast felt happened a few weeks back that a different tour guide happened to be standing beside that plate but felt nothing. Because the caverns are beneath a mountain, nothing, not even sunlight, can penetrate it. We received an example of total darkness during the tour. As the guide said there are only two places in the world where you can experience total darkness. One place is miles underneath the ocean where sunlight doesn't reach, and the other is deep underneath a mountain. My son's favorite part was seeing the bottomless pool. I thought it was interesting but was not thrilled that to reach the area you have to squeeze yourself through a narrow passage that is about eight inches wide and press yourself tightly next to your neighbor for everyone to fit on the platform. Looking down, you think that there is a layer of Plexiglas between the grating you're standing on and the pool, but in reality it is actually the surface of the stagnate water.All and all it was a pleasant afternoon outing, and it really didn't take that much time. We were home in time for dinner even after taking a quick detour up to Asheville. Spending time with your family doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Keep it simple and pick a spot close by then go and see what the day will bring. You may be surprised how much fun you can have.Sharon Myers is a married mother of two. She is a graduate of Lexington Senior High and received her bachelor's degree in journalism from East Carolina University.